Marathon training for the Marine Corps Marathon is right around the corner! And by that I mean it starts tomorrow. Eeek!
The 39th Marine Corps Marathon will take place on October 26, and it will be my second full marathon. This year they utilized a lottery system, but I chose to go the guaranteed entry route which ended up being just as stressful. By gaining entry into, and completing the Marine Corps 17.75K I punched my ticket to MCM 2014.
And now the time has come to train. For marathon #2 I have decided to put all of my eggs in the Hansons Marathon basket. In case you’re not familiar, the Hasons Marathon Method is a somewhat unconventional approach to training for a marathon. They place a focus on high mileage made up of about 50% easy running, lower mileage long runs (max. of 16 miles), and an all together well-rounded program. The prescribed paces for each type of run are all based on your marathon goal time.
Based on my running experience, my previous full marathon, and my lack of experience in high-mileage running, I have decided to go with the beginner training program. Don’t be fooled by the word beginner, though. This training program will have me running six days per week, starting with a weekly total of 15 miles and building to the upper 50’s. As I go through the training program, I plan to discuss different aspects of it in more detail, and the philosophy behind it all. Essentially I’ll try to explain why I joined the Hansons train and why the program is the way it is. That is, if I survive.
What are you looking forward to this fall?
Have you taken any leaps of faith lately?
Any previous Hansons devotees? What do I need to know??
Turkey Runner 
Best of luck to you with your training and running MCM. I too will be using Hanson’s for my marathon in Indy. I look forward to reading your posts about HMM.
Good luck with your marathon training, too! Lets hope the Hansons do us right.
So exciting!! I love them when I used them for my faux marathon training last year and I just picked up their half marathon book, too. My sister’s using their method for MCM as well, just adding two longer 20ish mile runs in more for mental sake (because we all have some trust issues, right). So excited to follow along!
You and Jeano both had such good things to say about the program! I hope I feel the same way when it’s all said and done 🙂 That’s cool that your sister will also be using their method for MCM. I may end up asking her questions through you, haha.
Started my training for the MCM. Figure I will need about 35 miles to cover you. I still have to get downtown and check out the route, but that will have to wait until it gets a whole lot cooler.
LUD.
That is a lot of biking! Maybe if I get up that way before October we can check out some of the route. That really helped me when we drove the Army 10 Miler route.
I’ve heard such good things about that program. Can’t wait to see your posts as you go through the program. Looking forward to races come this fall. Not many races during the 120* summer so there will be lots of races this fall.
Me, too. All of the good things I’ve heard, in combination with reading the book, helped me decide to go for it. Yikes! 120* summers?? No wonder there are not many races!
Yay! I have tried to follow them, but have not been successful. I can’t follow plans well. I am excited to see how you do. Is your time goal 4:30? So excited to follow your training!!!
I am a very good plan follower. It makes my little Type A brain very very happy to have a list and cross things off. I’m tentatively leaning towards 4:30. Based on my recent 5K and half marathon times from earlier this spring, it seems like a reasonable and attainable goal. You sure do cut to the chase 🙂
I have not heard of the Hanson training plans but I’m intrigued. So the longest run is 16 miles but you’re still hitting lots of miles? Must be more long runs per week then? I’m interested to read your weekly recaps as you follow this plan!
I only started hearing about it at the beginning of 2013. Yes, the longest long run is 16 miles, but you run so much mileage beforehand that it simulates the last 16 miles of the marathon (running on tired legs). The runs during the week are longer, in comparison to the traditional 3-4 shorter weekday runs and one monster long run on the weekend. It’s all part of the Hanson logic 🙂
I’ve heard of the Hansons Marathon Method, but I don’t know anything at all about it. I’m interested to see how it goes. I think I would miss the long runs. They’re my favorite 🙂
Good luck!
I’m interested to see how it goes too, ha! I like long runs the best, but I think 16 miles will be enough for me to get my fill.
I’m so excited for you and look forward to following your training!